Walsh University nabs its first National Science Foundation grant

Walsh University in North Canton has received the first National Science Foundation grant in its history.

The nearly $600,000 award will fund scholarships for students interested in pursuing the chemistry field. The grant will allow Walsh to award 16 four-year scholarships to eligible chemistry students, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 per year. The size of the scholarships depends on each student’s merit and level of financial need.

“It is a strong endorsement of our faculty and the quality of our programs,” said Walsh University president Richard Jusseaume in a news release. “The university has always had a tradition of excellence, and in recent years we have renewed our commitment to extend that tradition more deeply into the areas of scholarship and research.”

The funding will also support the launch in the fall of 2015 of a new learning community for chemistry students. Over the five-year grant period, two groups of eight students will live and take classes in a designated community and participate in activities that Walsh said will “strengthen their self-identity as chemists.” The grant will also fund recruitment efforts at high schools, on-campus science workshops and regional science fairs.

Morning Roundup

Business headlines from Crain's Cleveland Business and other Ohio newspapers — delivered FREE to your inbox every morning. Sign up for the Morning Newsletter.